Hidden worlds

beneath the waves

Engaging people
with undersea
landscapes

UK conference
25th February
2009
The Guildhall,
Hull

Including:
l Marine Bill Update
- what do the UK and
devolved Bills mean for
marine awareness providers?

l Undersea landscapes
- a potentially powerful
approach to public engagement

l Dive time - try out Natural

England’s new simulator, the
Undersea Landscapes Explorer
Hidden worlds beneath the waves
Engaging people with undersea landscapes
Many people have their own vision of what the This conference will be interactive with a few short
bottom of the sea looks like, formed from movies, presentations followed by facilitated workshop
TV and literature. From the Abyssal Plains – the sessions. The conference will explore various
flattest places on earth – to the Mariana Trench themes including:
– which descends to a depth of almost 11 km and is
l What do the forthcoming Marine Bills mean for
the deepest part of the ocean – there are as many
coastal and marine awareness providers?
different landscapes underwater as there are on
land. Here are just a few of the landscapes found l Undersea landscapes:
beneath UK seas:
l What’s the theory behind a shift of focus
l Undersea sand dunes snaking 40 miles across in coastal and marine education from
the seabed – our very own secret Sahara species/habitats to undersea landscapes?
l Submerged cliffs and caves – the flooded l What potential does the approach have?
coastline of our ancestors
l What are the challenges/problems of
l Unusual natural features such as the Mixon engaging people in undersea landscapes?
Hole, the Lune Deep and the curious
l What are educators already doing that
Bracklesham Balls
supports this approach?
l Landscapes featuring shipwrecks and other
l What could educators do to develop it
manmade structures.
further? And when?
Most of us get only a small glimpse of the undersea
landscape when the tide recedes and we can Also at the conference:
fossick in rock pools and stroll on the sand, shingle l Experience undersea landscapes at close
or mudflats. Many do not realise how diverse and quarters in Natural England’s brand new
beautiful the seafloor landscapes can be. simulator, the Undersea Landscapes Explorer.
Yet recent research has indicated that people l Sign up online to CoastNet’s new Coastal and
who are unfamiliar with the UK’s seas and sea Marine Education Network.
life are captivated by the idea of hidden undersea
landscapes. Could undersea landscapes form the l Bring and share marine awareness materials.
basis for a powerful approach to engaging people
in the marine environment? And how might these
endeavours support implementation of the UK
Marine Bill and devolved Bills, particularly the new
networks of marine protected areas?
Programme
9.30 Registration and refreshments

10.00 Welcome
Dr Rob Stoneman, Chief Executive, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

10.15 Introduction
Paul Rose, Presenter/Expedition Leader, BBC Oceans

Presentations

10.30 Marine Bill update – where are we now?

Speaker tbc, Defra

10.45 What does the new legislation mean for

marine awareness providers?
Lisa Chilton, The Wildlife Trusts

11.00 Marine education networks

Theresa Redding, CoastNet

11.15 Coffee break

11.30 Why focus on undersea landscapes?

Karen Mitchell, Natural England

11.45 Bringing the sea floor to the surface: undersea landscape

projects and resources
Lara Murphy, Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund

12.00 Lunch (small groups to Undersea

Landscapes Explorer)

Workshop session

13.45 Undersea Landscapes

Critique of the concept.

14.30 Taking the plunge

Group tasks to develop ideas for practical delivery of the concept.

15.00 Feedback on tasks

15.30 Refreshments and networking

15.50 Time-lines and pledges

Opportunities, commitments, roles and responsibilities

16.15 Summing up and conclusion

16.30 End
Booking Form
Hidden worlds beneath the waves
Engaging people with undersea landscapes

February 25th 2009, The Guildhall, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull HU1 2AA
Multimap reference: http://www.multimap.com/s/yAV7GljG
Only 70 places are available, and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Attendance
is free of charge – but please don’t abuse this privilege! Please only book if you genuinely plan to
attend, and please let us know at the earliest opportunity if you have to cancel your booking, in order

Copyright The Wildlife Trusts 2008. Registered charity no. 207238. Cover image © Natural England. Photographs © Paul Naylor, www.marinephoto.co.uk
that we can offer your place to someone else.
Please either complete the form below by typing in the response boxes and clicking the submit button,
or print this form out and return it to the postal address at the bottom of the page.

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Please send your booking form to: Other enquiries

Email: theresa.redding@coastnet.org.uk Please call Theresa Redding on 01206 728644.
Post: Theresa Redding, Information on accommodation and travel will be
CoastNet (Conferences), sent once a booking has been confirmed
The Gatehouse, Rowhedge Wharf,
High Street, Rowhedge, Essex CO5 7ET